Enjoyance

Lilo & Stitch was playing without sound in the waiting room at physical therapy. It is rare that I am unable to piece together the plot of a children's movie even in the absence of dialogue but this one has utterly defeated me. What. The. Hell. Is. That. Blue. Thing?

Which reminds me... Patrick was slow (very slow. glacial, really) in his approach to movies and the fact that all non-animated movies either bored him or freaked him out was kind of annoying. It limited our family viewing to the Science channel (talk about boring... I loathe all eras. also periods, epochs and ages - even the Holocene which makes me an ingrate) or the few movies (Aladdin, Cars, Shrek, Lion King 1 1/2) that he liked.

But now that he's blooming into a tween he's enjoying more things (like all of the Harry Potter movies but only after he read the books) and I realized that I am thirty years out of date in this genre. Case in point: the first movie I thought to get for him was Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang. He was not amused. So I tried Ferris Bueller's Day Off and he was a little too amused (I didn't remember it being quite so broad in its humor) Steve was convinced Patrick would love Raiders of the Lost Ark but it was just OK for him after the opening scene (Nazi archeology apparently does not translate well for Patrick - Steve and I still liked it) and now we're back to my suggesting early 70s classics like Swiss Family Robinson while trying to explain how long ago the only time a kid could watch a movie was on Sunday nights and more often than not they sucked.

Surely there have been decent movies have been made in the past thirty years or so that are neither babyish nor too grownup? 

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Caroline and Edward are very cute.

 

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Patrick has four more Interactive Metronome sessions in OT to complete and it's been quite helpful already. I'm still not entirely clear on how it works or why but I think the idea is that these repetitive motions teach the neurons in the brain to fire differently and I've noticed that Patrick is less... impulsive? Messy? Out of sync? Something. Something better. 

Lego photography must be an art form at which I do not excel but here are a couple shots of the blue-ribbon house. The details don't show up very well but there were a lot of them and Patrick had designed the levels with only a few points of attachment with smooth bricks in between so you can lift up and see into the floors below. 

That's the living room with a couch and a television and a table lamp and a remote control. I asked him what the red thing was by the window and he said it was chockalock and I thought about it and finally said you mean tchotchke? And he gave the gracious nod he has perfected and said, "If you prefer."

[Yesterday he complained, "Caroline was in my room again... much to my annoyment."]  

 

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Edward expressed interest in moving from his crib into a big boy bed so Steve

This just became a parenthetical aside so long it gets its own paragraph:

Steve has developed a passion for Craigslist in the process of rehabbing the farmhouse - he bought an acre of some guy's old barn floors for like $6 and it escalated from there: on the plus side he used it to sell the hot tub so for the first time since we've lived here we are able to use the screened porch without being up to our necks in water; on the minus side... actually, there is no minus side. It's a good thing. We got rid of the hot tub and bought someone's fairly-ugly-but-functional patio set and now we can eat on the porch - although so far Steve and I have just used it to drink and play cards. The distance between the chairs and the table means that three-quarters of what we serve the children will get lost en route so I am waiting for a night that I serve something in big enough pieces that I won't mind prying them out of the chair grooves. And then two days ago we sold one of the double strollers to a nice couple who is building their family through international adoption and I like the fact that another brother-sister pair will get use out of it.

Anyway I told Steve that Edward wanted a *big boy bed* (you have to say it like Edward does all squeaky-husky) and Steve promptly looked on Craigslist. Then he laughed and showed me what he pulled up and I laughed and said "Kurt Van Houten" and then we were both misty for a moment while we remembered the Simpsons episode where Kurt leaves his wife and is extolling the virtues of single living and says, "I sleep in a race car bed, Homer. Do you sleep in a race car bed?"    

So we said ha ha ha ha ha h... huh as it simultaneously occurred to both of us that Edward really would like to sleep in a race car bed.

So we bought it for twenty-five bucks and if we were a little disconcerted to discover that the bed fits no known mattress size (38" by 63"? what the hell?) Edward's developed an instant passion for it: "Ma boo rathe cah bed goeth ZOOOOM!" Since we could hardly get rid of it we had to find a mattress solution and settled on using the single futon that flops neatly over the edge and creates what I am calling a 'safety berm' to keep the fact that the mattress doesn't fit from driving me crazy.

(Edward's newest habit is to tell us the color of everything. I am hoping this rubs off on Caroline who can only accurately identify the color pink. The rest of the time she will look you dead in the eye and say with ringing confidence, "That dog? It's BLUE.")

PS Thank you so much for all the eczema help. I can tell you exactly what happened with Edward - we always use a scent-free dye-free laundry soap at home but when we went to Colorado I didn't think about it and used what our friends had on hand. Edward's skin took one whiff of Waterfall Fresh Lilac Blossom Springtime and started trying to eat itself - I didn't notice right away and by the time I did he had well and truly flared. He's doing much better - well he now has a screaming cold but apart from that - and I used most of your advice: Bacitracin on the bloody bits and moisture on the rest. 

Comments

[Emma]

Does it fit a crib mattress? Our car bed did. My kids like the Mummy movies, Jurassic Park, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Night at the Museum.

[katherine]

If the mattress is really driving you crazy, check out
http://foambymail.com/
They will cut foam mattresses to any size you want.
I used this site to build my own cheapro-pedic (a cheap tempur-pedic) five years ago and it's still holding up wonderfully (even though both hubby and I are definitely not petite.) So I'm pretty sure a mattress from there will hold its firmness for longer than Edward sleeps in his race car...

[Katie]

Don't those beds use some kind of special sized toddler mattress?

[Ellen]

Has Patrick seen the movie "Home Alone" yet?

[Laura]

We have been looking for movies that our 6 and 9 year olds will enjoy now that they showing interest in something other than animated Disney movies.

They loved Indiana Jones, but their favorite in that series was the Last Crusade -- Indy's interactions with his father had them in stitches. They also enjoyed Back to the Future. I didn't realize how much they enjoyed it until they built a replica of the street, complete with clock tower, wire and a car with a hook. When my 6 year old mumbled the phrase, "Please excuse the crudity of the model, I didn't have time to paint it or build it to scale," I about fell out of my chair.

The Sandlot is another favorite, and they warmed up to Mrs. Doubtfire.

[BethF]

I am with you on the movies. Movies that I remember being the best as a child don't rate the same as a parent. For my 9 year old, I bought Goonies (rated PG) because I remembered it being so good. But 10 minutes into it, I had to turn it off because there was so much swearing which I had no recollection of. Gremlins freaked him out. But I still think both are classics, maybe in a couple of years. They did not have PG-13 back then.

I vote Home Alone and Sandlot. Both great movies that kids and parents love. My son also likes Holes and ET. Also he was enthralled with Jaws and I know you wouldn't normally have a child watch a horror movie but it isn't really scary at all-just some blood in the water. They didn't have the same visual effects back then.

[Laura]

I just checked our Netflix list. The Chronicles of Narnia and Prince Caspian were well received, as was Percy Jackson & the Lightining Thief. I would also second the vote for Home Alone.

[Jodi]

Star! Wars! Over and over again!

My guys also enjoy Men in Black I & II, and they are addicted to the rejuvenated Doctor Who on DVD. Patrick might like that stuff too; he's the same age and seems to have similar interests.

[Sarah]

Have you totally skipped the entire Pixar oeuvre? Up? Wall-E? Toy Story (1-3)? Monsters Inc? Our 9-y-o daughter is a movie addict and we've LOVED so many of the movies over the past few years. Finding Nemo is another big favorite. For other recommendations, the website commonsensemedia.org does them by age, and gives really detailed reviews about anything that might be problematic for specific parents/kids.

[NL]

Unrelated to anything in your post, but...

I found you on Redbook's mom's blog many years ago. When you went away, I found this site. I read through all of the years, but only after the 13s had arrived.

Every time you became pregnant again, I would want to shout at you like you want to shout at people in bad horror movies "Don't go in there! Stop! It's going to end badly! This is not the one to be excited about!!!"

Now I look at those little Twinkles and just marvel at them, at your family, at how the story turned out.

Those photos of Caroline & Edward, and the lovey kissy ones you've been posting, just fill me with the kind of joy that I can't explain. Your family was not just blessed by your final conception, the two of them were gifts to each other as well.

It's a great story.

[Christa]

What about short circuit? I loved it when I was Patrick's age.

[Alexis M]

Cool Runnings. There's nothing like a big bald black Jamaican bobsledding dude named Yul Brenner. I shit you not.
Twister?
Dr. Doolittle (and I do mean the original one who traveled home via sea snail) although the first new one was enjoyable as well.
The new Chronicles of Narnia movies? I mean, I know that he'll have to read the books first (if he hasn't already).
Smokey and the Bandit, although old, is still charming.
Spiderman
It's not new, but what about Batman with Adam West?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - live action movies 1 and 2.
Karate Kid

I'll keep thinking.

[jaybee]

the Sandlot! My boys love this movie
How about Charley and the Chocolate Factory and the newer Willie Wonka (the Tim Burton version)
The first three Star Wars videos
Nanny McPhee (the original)
Musicals -- Grease, West Side Story, Hairspray
Holes
The one about eating Fried Worms
Sky High (high school for superhero kids)
Real Science (might be a little racy)
High School Musical 1 & 3 (skip 2)

[Katie]

Flight of the Navigator! I freaking loved it as an 8 year old, but that was more than 20 years ago, so I am also out of touch.

[deni]

I have good memories of watching Flight of the Navigator as a kid. It was always my mom's pick.

[Stacy]

Willow! ( A wee scary when that troll turns into a pulsating brain with a two-headed dragon thingie. Oh and a bit of running through with swords, but light!)

A Knight's Tale is fun but a bit sexy and bare bottomy.

It so pleases me to be the first to suggest it: The Princess Bride.

[Kate G.]

We really enjoyed the Night at the Museum movies, as well as the National Treasure series. My kids also liked watching the Spy Kids movies.

[Silly Mama]

The Neverending Story. Have tissues nearby.

[Kate G.]

I forgot about Matilda! That movie is a lot of fun, and you can read the book too!

[Yatima]

The Black Stallion and Duma. Fly Away Home. (We're hopeless animal lovers.) Oh, and I think Patrick would totally dig The Dish. My girls did.

[bethany actually]

Annalie just watched Pee Wee's Big Adventure for the first time today. It's silly and goofy and really freaking entertaining, even to me and my husband as we re-watched it for the first time in years. And Annalie LOVED it.

Princess Bride might be a little too girly for Patrick, but it does have Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, and miracles in it. Plus it's funny.

Hook. Short Circuit. Beetlejuice. Escape from Witch Mountain (original Jodie Foster flavor or newer The Rock flavor, they're both good).

[Ashlee]

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid
Labyrinth
E.T.
The Wizard of Oz
Beethoven
The Princess Bride
Rookie of the Year
A Kid in King Arthur's Court
Free Willy
Hook

[bethany actually]

Ooh, Tron! And Willow!

[EW]

The Incredibles, if he'll tolerate the animated-ness. He might like Pixar in general, especially if he gets interested in computer animation. i'd also second the new Narnia movies. I liked Jumanji, and it might work for Patrick's quirky sense of humor.

[EW]

Oh, and the blue thing in "Lilo and Stitch?" That would be Stitch, the blue alien destroyer sent to Earth who gets adopted by Lilo. It is a weird film.

[Julie]

These are ones my kids like and that I enjoy as well:

The Wallace and Gromit films, great clay-mation films from the guys who created Shaun the Sheep

Japanese Animation-
Howl's Moving Castle
My Neighbor Tortoro
Ponyo
Spirited Away

The Incredible Journey and it's 90's remake Homeward Bound
Searching for Bobby Fischer
Babe
Miracle
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Fly Away Home

[Jennifer]

Can I second The Princess Bride. One of my favourite movies, and our boys (8 and 7) watched it the other night and loved it.

And the Goodies (if he likes slapstick humour), which is a British 70s era TV show that I loved as a child has our 8 year old in hysterics on very many repeated viewings, although I am getting a little sick of it now.

[Steph]

The Princess Bride . . classic. The book is great too . . much more detailed.
Holes (Disney . . my 9 year old daughter LOVES it.)

[Marina]

The Emperor's New Groove is one of the most frequently quoted movies in my household, in spite of it being an animated Disney kid's movie and us being all (theoretically) grownups. Seriously, it's VERY funny, minimally violent, and provides lovely moral lessons about friendship and patience and being nice and stuff without being heavyhanded in the least.

And ditto everything Pixar.

[Whichever]

Japanese Animation by Studio Ghibli!! You will love them too! Try Chihiro first...

[JustLinda]

Home Alone is well liked by my kids who are 6 and 8.

A definite must-see is called Secondhand Lions. It has Robert Duvall, Michael Caine, and Haley Joel Osmet. It's really fantastic.

Fly Away Home was really good too.

I agree with Hook, Willow, and The Princess Bride.

I tried to get them to watch Neverending Story but they thought it was dumb.

We like musicals here, so The Sounds of Music and others like that are big - Grease, etc.

[Jane]

I second Labyrinth... just don't make the mistake my sister did and pick up PAN'S Labyrinth. My nephews still talk about "that horrible scary movie with the guy with the eyeballs in his hands Grandma told us to watch."

[HereWeGoAJen]

I think Lilo and Stitch is a truly excellent movie. However, the sequels get worse and worse, don't bother with them.

[alison]

The Incredibles
Wall-e
MOnsters Inc
Bug's lIfe
Memo
Wallace and Gromit - these can all be streamed from Netflix if you've parsed out the technology
Shaun the Sheep, ditto

The Princess Bride
Willow
All the Indiana Jones movies
Truly all the Star Wars, even though purists hate the newer 3

Recently watched Neverending Story with my kid, not sure I'd bother.

I fear I'm just seconding things here.

[TheLuckyGal]

My DD loves dog movies - Beethoven, Good Boy, Homeward Bound and the newest addition: Marmaduke. Babe is also a fave.

We sometimes lie in bed and watch trailers on iTunes - and find stuff we want to rent or buy later. Found Nim's Island this way.

[Clarity]

Dammit all the good ones are already taken. I second Labyrinth, Princess Bride, Willow, and Nanny McPhee.

[Jackie]

Seriously, has no one mentioned The Goonies??

A bunch of 10 year old boys go in search of pirate treasure to save their neighborhood from being turned into a golf course. Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Josh Brolin. It came out when I was 7ish, and everyone I know within 3 years of me knows the entire movie by heart - it defined a mini-generation.

It's fantastic.

[Maura]

We weren't allowed to watch TV as kids, just movies, but I can't think of ANY except Old Yeller (so sad though) and Star Wars, which we fast forwarded through the first THOUSAND times we watched Old Yeller.

I think Edward Scissor Hands and Princess Bride are good, too. What about the Pirates of the Caribbean movies?

[Korinna]

I'm glad you mentioned Swiss Family Robinson. Even at 35, my love for that movie is unrivaled.

[stacey]

Great suggestions for movies here! The only ones I can think to add are earlier animated Disney movies such as Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood, Pinocchio, and Dumbo, although he might be a little old for the latter two.

Also, I loved Star Trek: The Next Generation when I was his age.

[llcsis]

More ringing accolades for Pixar movies such as Toy Story (all), but also, one of my kids very favorites was a little known movie with Robin Williams called "Jumanji". It is GREAT! The special effects are pretty funny now that we have state of the art, but my son loved Lion King as well, and this was the 1st non-animated movie he enjoyed. I think all of you would enjoy it.
Since you are now into Craigslist, do a search for kids dvds. I know I have a box of movies my kids don't watch anymore, I'm sure others are selling them too.

http://www.amazon.com/Jumanji-Collectors-Robin-Williams/dp/B000031EGV/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1282222963&sr=1-1

[llcsis]

Oh - I didn't like Lilo either. We had the car bed too, but got the twin size (in RED!) Turned out to be worth every penny of the $300 we paid, and then sold it for $200 when both kids outgrew it.

[Glori]

Oldies, but Space Camp and Clue were loved by my tweens.

[TeacherMommy]

I fifteenth (or whatever) the Pixar flicks, which are ever so much better than generic Disney cartoons. Even if they are owned by Disney these days.

In terms of very recent films that may or may not be out on DVD yet, The Sorcerer's Apprentice was marvelous and nicely devoid of S-E-X, though with a touch of romance. How To Train Your Dragon was also an excellent (animated) film. I think he might find the "hero" rather appealing. I am told by my 12-yr-old stepson that The Diary of a Wimpy Kid was a very good movie (and he likes the books, too. They seemed rather good, what little I perused.) His father agreed.

I want to nibble on the twinkles.

[EG]

What about "batteries not included" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092494/
Labyrinth http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091369/
And we always liked the "three men and a baby" movies. Also - there are a ton of great TV shows that you can buy as dvd's

[mar]

Did no one mention Bolt? One of our favorites! Up was also better than I thought it would be - and has one of my favorite lines of all time - "Squirrel!!!!"

Might be a bit soon for him, but in a year or so, Get Smart, with Steve Carell - hysterical! Oh, speaking of Steve Carell - Evan Almighty - make sure you watch the credits for "The Dance" outtakes. How about episodes of the TV show "Star Trek - Next Generation" - my kids are geeks, and love that.

Also Night at the Museum (both), Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Akeelah and the Bee, National Treasure (both), Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, War Games (old but good)

[Kate]

Nim's Island
Bridge to Terabithia
Because of Winn Dixie
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Wayside School Series (at the Library)
Battle for Terra
Spy Kids movies
Night at the Museum, pt. 1 and 2
Scooby Doo, The Mystery Begins...not animated
These are some of our favorites, and some have books he can read first. Happy viewing!

[Jacquie]

My kids are so-so on movies too. I'm planning to try out musicals--The Sound of Music, Singin' in the Rain, The Music Man--on them next.

[Candy]

You could just put the video to the White Stripes "Fell In Love With A Girl" on repeat for him. It's a video made of Legos.

[bonnie]

Princess Bride